Civil rights movement in the US history left deep marks on the souls and hearts of people who lived during that time. It was not only a political movement of people towards rights and equality before law guided by such figures as Martin Luther King but also a human strive of oppressed against the shameful injustice caused by their masters. It was a tenuous and lengthy path accompanied by various rebellions and civil unrest. It took tremendous efforts and many lives of the US citizens to establish a free and equal society. It refers to the events and movements in the country against public and personal racial discrimination.

Studying the events of occurred in the past of America is very important and necessary because it is a duty of everyone to not allow same mistakes to happen in the future. However, learning the real life stories from those people who still remember Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King or Cesar Chavez is absolutely incredible. There are a lot of words said and written but there still remain those untold stories that are carried in the hearts of Americans. I was delighted to learn some insights from my friend’s grandmother, Mrs. Libby James, who lived the events and who saw things that were happening with her own eyes.

The woman grew up in the rural Ohio community. It was not the place where a lot of racial trouble was happening. Libby James studied in school that taught nothing about slavery or injustices. As the girl she only saw white people around and she had no idea that these basic rules apply to any black, brown or yellow neighbor.

When the Civil Rights Movement started Mrs. Libby James was a newlywed and she moved to Illinois. Living there woman recollects numerous times when her husband and her went out to dine, everywhere they saw signs that prohibited blacks from entering and eating together with whites. Young Libby James who was raised in a normal community thought it was not fair because no matter what color you are, you are still a human. Woman numerously saw how white masters hit their slaves, sell them and divide families. Mrs. Libby James recollects strong violence and racial discrimination that whites had against blacks. “It seemed like no matter what blacks did, they were always wrong,” said the lady.

One day together with her husband they were driving through a small city to visit some friends. It was a dark night but even darker were the hundreds of African Americans lined up in that city. They were getting ready because the next morning the young girl learnt the breaking news of the looting and riots in cities around the country.

From the recollections of Mrs. Libby James it is striking through how much injustice the African Americans went through. She later was hired to work in the restaurant as a waiter and she shared one episode when one day she saw a black couple sitting on the very far end table that have not been served for a long while. Instinctively, young woman came to them and asked what they want. Within several minutes getting back to deliver the request, she was called in the manager’s office. She was told that “they do not serve negroes” and that she strongly violated the policy of the restaurant. She argued why there should exist a racial inequality. Surprisingly, she was not fired but only warned. The African American couple was strongly asked to leave the place. How racial is this? Years later after the Civil rights movement took place in the U.S. woman went to the same restaurant with her daughter. Next to them set an African couple with the young girl as well. The two children shared same ice cream.

She lived in the time when Martin Luther King made his incredible input into securing the progress of civil rights in the country.  Mrs. Libby James praises his non-violent approaches to change the system. Just like him she believed that violence will generate more violence and that was definitely not the way out. Martin Luther King for her was a human rights icon who was not afraid to speak up and protect the oppressed be they blacks or immigrants. He was not afraid to stand up against the issues of racial discrimination. Martin Luther King mounted people’s courage and led thousands to the change. Woman remembers the March on Washington in 1963. She saw the legendary man. He was one of the leaders of “Big Six” civil rights organizations. March made significant demands such as end of racial discrimination in schools and in jobs, civil rights legislation and so on. It was an impressive event that brought about significant results and changes.

Martin Luther King supported ordinary people. He took it his main mission to bring justice to the U.S. He questioned the role of the U.S. in the Vietnam War and spoke openly against it. He called it the wish of the United States to occupy the country as its colony. The war in question took a lot of money that could have been spent on social welfare and could win another war, War of Poverty. He was against the fact that with each year more and more money was spent on military instead of anti-poverty programs. Martin Luther King organized Poor People’s Campaign to tackle the issues of the economic injustice. And the famous campaign culminated into the March on Washington.

Martin Luther King will forever stay in the hearts and minds of those who witnessed as well as those who study the events today. His wife Coretta King said about him that he “gave his life for the poor of the world, the garbage workers of Memphis and the peasants of Vietnam. The day that Negro people and others in bondage are truly free, on the day want is abolished, on the day wars are no more, on that day I know my husband will rest in a long-deserved peace.”

The Civil rights movement and its key figures brought about positive changes and total abolishment of the discrimination. And today with the President Obama we observe the strongest result of the civil rights movement. US being a recognized world power is setting a strong example for the leaders and countries worldwide.